What Age Do Baby Raccoons Leave Their Mother?

October 15, 2022 by Marjorie R. Rogers, MA (English), Certified Consultant

Raccoons are interesting animals. They are intelligent and curious, and they have a unique bandit-like appearance. People often wonder about the life of a raccoon, including when baby raccoons leave their mother.

Most people assume that baby raccoons stay with their mother until they are fully grown, but this is not the case. Baby raccoons actually leave their mother when they are around four months old. This may seem like a short amount of time, but it is enough for the baby raccoon to learn everything it needs to know to survive on its own.

After leaving its mother, a young raccoon will live on its own for several years before finding a mate and starting its own family.

When do baby raccoons leave their mother? It depends on the species, but generally they will stay with their mothers for around a year before striking out on their own. Some young raccoons will even remain in their family groups for several years before venturing out alone.

So if you see a baby raccoon, there’s a good chance its mother is close by!

Baby Raccoon Age Chart

When trying to determine the age of a baby raccoon, there are several things you can look at. One is the size of the animal. A newborn raccoon will be about the size of a house cat, while an adult can grow to be as large as a medium-sized dog.

Another way to tell the age of a raccoon is by its fur. A young raccoon will have soft, downy fur, while an older one will have thicker, coarser hair. Finally, you can also look at the animal’s eyes.

Baby raccoons have blue eyes, which change to brown or green as they mature. Now that you know how to identify a baby raccoon, let’s talk about their behavior. Young raccoons are very curious and playful creatures.

They love to explore their surroundings and play with anything they can get their hands on – including your belongings! As they get older, however, raccoons become more solitary animals and prefer to spend time alone or with other members of their species. If you find a baby raccoon on its own, it’s best not to try and take care of it yourself.

These animals carry a number of diseases that can be harmful to humans, so it’s best to leave them alone and call your local wildlife rehabilitation center for help.

Credit: www.vancouverwildlife.com

Can a 3 Month Old Raccoon Survive on Its Own?

No, a three-month old raccoon cannot survive on its own. It is still too young to be independent and will need the care of its mother or another adult raccoon in order to survive. At three months old, a raccoon is still very immature and has not yet learned how to find food or shelter on its own.

Additionally, it is not yet able to defend itself against predators.

Do Mother Raccoons Abandon Their Babies?

No, mother raccoons do not abandon their babies. If a mother raccoon is killed or otherwise unable to care for her young, the babies will be taken in by another adult female raccoon or even by a male. Raccoons are very social animals and live in family groups consisting of a mated pair and their offspring.

The young stay with their parents until they reach sexual maturity and then disperse to find mates of their own.

How Can You Tell How Old a Baby Raccoon Is?

One of the most common questions asked about baby raccoons is how to tell how old they are. There are a few physical indicators that can help give you an idea of a young raccoon’s age. First, take a look at their size.

A newborn raccoon will be about the size of a house cat, while an older juvenile can be closer to the size of a small dog. This difference in size is due to their rapid growth rate; they can double their weight in just over a month! Next, examine their fur.

Young raccoons have softer, fluffier fur than adults do, and this coat is often lighter in color as well. The tips of their tails also tend to be darker than the rest of their body. As they get older, raccoons’ fur becomes more coarse and darkens overall.

Finally, pay attention to their eyes. Baby raccoons generally have blue eyes, which change to brown or greenish-yellow as they mature (usually around 3-4 months old). If you see a young raccoon with completely brown eyes, it’s likely at least 6 months old.

At What Age Can a Baby Raccoon Survive on Its Own?

A baby raccoon can survive on its own from the age of 3 months onwards. However, it is best for them to stay with their mother until they are around 1 year old as she will help teach them how to find food and avoid predators. Once they reach adulthood, raccoons can live for up to 20 years in the wild.

How Long Do Baby Raccoons Take To Grow Up?

Conclusion

When do baby raccoons leave their mother? It depends on several factors, but typically, young raccoons will stay with their mom for around a year before striking out on their own. After that, they’ll still keep in touch with their family and often return to visit, but they’ll have established their own homes by then.